This degree enables students to analyse the latest developments in operations and supply chain practice across a variety of sectors. You should emerge equipped with the knowledge and skills to help you reach a senior managerial position and become one of the operations, logistics and supply chain strategists of the future.

Programme outline

The aim of the programme is to provide postgraduate-level education in operations and supply chain management principles, theories and practice. Designed by one of the UK’s leading specialist research groups*, it offers a theoretical and practical examination of the factors necessary for effective operations and supply management in today’s global and highly competitive markets. In particular, the global virtual classroom in which you study enables you to understand the practical and strategic implications of multinational supply chains and to learn directly from your professional counterparts in other parts of the world.

In addition, it demonstrates how successful operations performance can shape and influence the sales and profit ambition of a business. The intent is also to provide you with a profound understanding of the processes and techniques for developing operations strategy and managing operations and supply chain activities.

*The group was part of a 5-star rated submission in the last RAE review, general engineering category. See www.hero.ac.uk/rae

Programme structure

The programme is composed of six core modules, two electives and one dissertation (for a total of 180 credit points).

A Core modules

Supply Chain Operations Management

Strategic Operations Management

Logistics and International Trade

Business Analysis and Assessment

Total Quality Management

Lean Thinking

B Elective modules

Operations Modelling and Simulation

e-Business Enterprise Systems

Business Finance*

Marketing in a Global Environment*

Human Resource Management*

Business Leadership*

Information Technology Project Management*

E-Commerce*

*Pending Stipulation

Module Abstracts

Core module

Supply Chain Operations Management

Aim: To convey the principles, role and complexities of supply chain management and the techniques necessary for its optimisation

You will examine the key principles, systems, and techniques used to assure effective supply chain management. This module covers a range of subjects, including logistics, information management, inventory forecasting and management, partnerships and information technology. It will provide an understanding of the principles and role of supply chain management in organisations and the nature and importance of partnerships within the supply chain. You will also learn to apply many of the tools and techniques used to optimise supply chains.

You will study topics including the examination of modern business drivers and competitive performance (time compression, responsiveness, waste elimination, etc.); the achievement of competitive advantage through operations management; globalisation and supply chains; agility and Efficient Consumer Response; and operations performance measurement. Within each topic, you will analyse leading-edge operational practice.

Core module

Logistics and International Trade

Aim: To provide a thorough grounding in modern logistics operations and management and in the nature and practice of international trade

In the Logistics section of the module, you will examine intermodal operations, transport selection, warehousing and distribution management. In the International Trade section, key topics will include the role of the World Trade Organisation, trade restriction, import and export practice, and trade models. You will learn about purchasing policies and strategies inclusing make / buy and outsourcing decisions and contract negotiations.

Core module

Business Analysis and Assessment

Aim: To develop an understanding of the processes involved in managing organisations

This module offers a broad view of management processes, including strategic management, financial statement analysis, benchmarking (including use of the balanced scorecard), research methods and teamwork. You will also understand the interconnectivity of departments within the organisation. The module will encourage you to develop self-confidence and team skills, and will promote the use of research methods to encourage independent learning.

Core module

Total Quality Management

Aim: To provide a thorough understanding of quality management and quality assurance tools

You will acquire an understanding of the management aspects of quality development and examine the applications of quality assurance tools. You will study subject areas including the role and function of Total Quality Management; acceptance sampling; European Foundation for Quality Management excellence model and benchmarking; control charts; advanced quality planning; design of experiments; reliability definitions; problem solving tools; the impact of quality management on customer service and customer relationship management; and quality standards such as ISO etc.

Core module

Lean Thinking

Aim: To provide an understanding of the elements and benefits of lean thinking in business operations

This module introduces the philosophies and principles of lean thinking and provides a working knowledge of its supporting tools and techniques. It also offers an opportunity to implement these in a realistic operations simulation. The module covers the five stages to lean, waste-free operations, including the application of mapping and continuous improvement tools. It examines standard operations and workplace organisation, operations planning and control in a lean environment and customer/supplier development to support lean operations.

Elective Module

Operations Modelling and Simulation

Aim: To provide an understanding of the role of modelling and simulation in the development of business processes

This module focuses on key elements of modelling and simulation, including analytical techniques of systems, statistical aspects of modelling, system dynamics and value chain and process mapping. You will be exposed to a variety of commercially available tools and will learn to understand a range of analytical methods and their application, the dynamic nature of systems and their behavioural characteristics, and how real system modules are developed, tested and validated.

Elective module

e-Business Enterprise Systems

Aim: To demonstrate how enterprise systems are mapped with supply chain management functions and into e-business networks

Discover the approaches and technologies of enterprise application integrations and business process management. This module provides you with an understanding of enterprise system architecture and technologies in general, and the roles and functions of enterprise systems for e-business in particular. You will learn how enterprise systems are integrated into e-business networks and the technologies that are likely to drive the next generation of e-business enterprise systems.

Elective module

Business Finance*

Aim: To provide an overview of business finance in the global context

This module introduces the terminology of business finance, the financial environment and the role of the finance manager. You will examine issues such as raising finance, capital structure, dividend policy and the risk-return relationship, as well as short term financing, working capital management, mergers and acquisition, and corporate restructuring and governance, giving you an understanding of business decisions from a financial professional’s perspective.

Elective module

Marketing in a Global Environment*

Aim: To introduce more advanced global marketing issues

This module investigates advanced management concepts in the areas of market segmentation, multiple market channels, competitive intelligence, integrated marketing and e-Business. In particular, it introduces marketing concepts used by domestic and foreign companies seeking to market products globally. This module also provides an in-depth experience of the process of developing effective marketing plans, strategies and tactics in terms of theoretical as well as ‘real life’ perspectives.

Elective module

Human Resource Management*

Aim: To provide an understanding of the principal themes of HRM and its contribution to organisational goals

This module covers the fundamentals of HRM and its key issues and trends, including increased dependence on human capital and the shift to commoditisation. You will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to balance the needs of the organisation, the employee and organisational legislation. You will understand organisational structure, culture and strategy, with a special focus on international HRM.

Elective module

Business Leadership*

Aim: To provide a theoretical and practical approach to understanding issues affecting leadership in the workplace

You will analyse the theories and techniques of leadership and/or followership and their practical application. This module includes issues such as supervision, performance management, stress management, problem solving, concepts of human behaviour, discipline, counselling techniques and the current social issues facing the workforce.

Elective module

Information Technology Project Management*

Aim: To provide a full understanding of the management roles, responsibilities and techniques needed in technology projects

This module teaches how technology project management adapts as a computer system evolves from concept to implementation. You will master all areas of the subject, including organisation, work breakdown structure and scheduling, resources and project financing, project control and evaluation, management considerations, critical success factors and risk management.

Elective module

E-Commerce*

Aim: To provide an overview of key issues relating to e-Commerce

This module offers an introduction to the fundamentals of e-Commerce, from business models through technical infrastructure and implementation to social, legal and ethical considerations. You will act as a CIO/CEO working on an e-Commerce business proposal, with evaluations from a peer review group. Learning to build an e-Business holistically in a risk-free environment will help you become a more effective and successful manager.

* Pending Stipulation

Dissertation

The culmination of your programme, this written project demonstrates your mastery and integration of all your previous learning. The dissertation is the cornerstone of the UK university system. It is an original, scholarly work that applies your new knowledge and experience and allows you to prove your mastery of the techniques you have studied.

Students choose their dissertation topic in conjunction with their Personal Dissertation Advisor, an academic supervisor who will provide support throughout the study and writing process.

Prerequisites:

A Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university or a degree from a recognized institution comparable and/or equivalent to a British Honours degree.

Students with undergraduate degrees in Business, Engineering, Computer Sciences, or other quantitative discipline will be especially well prepared for this degree.

Applicants for whom English is not a mother tongue will need to demonstrate English proficiency comparable to IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 600, or GCSE C.

* Applicants that do not directly meet the educational requirements will be evaluated on an individual basis.